The Southern Gentlemen Barbershop Chorus sponsored and provided instruction for a Youth in Harmony Festival this spring to foster the barbershop style.

The event was held at Centenary United Methodist Church, where members of the popular New Bern singing group worked with local high school boys and girls to help them form quartets and learn to perform.

The festival allowed the students from New Bern and West Craven high schools to have tutoring from professional music coaches. Later, they were judged on their performances.

The young singers then had an opportunity to sing before their school choral classes.

The event was made possible through a grant from the Harold Bate Foundation.

The Southern Gentlemen are a chartered member of the Barbershop Society — one of about 840 in the U.S and Canada.

The chorus is a nonprofit organization.

The barbershop singers welcome new members. They rehearse each Tuesday from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at Cornerstone Church on U.S. 70 East.

The group recently had its annual spring show at Grover C. Fields Middle School in New Bern. In addition to performing at various functions and public events, the group is well-known for its annual “Singing Valentines” program, which includes a special day of singing for spouses and loved ones of military personnel.